Canadian Lacrosse Association Says No to Fighting

The Canadian Lacrosse Association, the country's governing body
of the sport, issued a statement on fighting Monday, essentially
moving to ban it from all levels of the game in Canada effective
for the 2013 season.

Fighting traditionally has been allowed in indoor Canadian box
leagues, in a form similar to hockey, but the new CLA rules state
that if any player takes part in a fight, from minor to senior
level, they will be ejected from a game. However, the new language
also leaves some gray area for officials to determine an
instigator. If that happens, the non-offending player will not
receive a game misconduct.

The change does not apply to the National Lacrosse League, which
is not governed by the CLA. Nor does the ruling alter Canadian
field lacrosse, where fighting has not been allowed.

"The Canadian Lacrosse Association and its Board of Directors
hereby declare that they are opposed to fighting in the game of
lacrosse," the CLA stated in a press release,
adding that is has approved rule changes that "positions Canadian
lacrosse on the international stage as a world leader in
maintaining the integrity of the game."

The changes to the CLA's Rule 45 on fighting include:

a) A major penalty and game
misconduct penalty shall be assessed to any player/goalkeeper who
fights. A goalkeeper penalty shall be served by a player who was on
the floor at the time of the infraction. The major penalty must be
served in its duration.

b) If there is an instigator or
clear aggressor in a fight, a major penalty and a game misconduct
plus any other penalties shall be assessed to the offending
player(s). Where an instigator or clear aggressor penalty is
assessed the non-offending player shall not receive a game
misconduct under 45 (a).

The CLA cited safety as the reason for imposing stiffer
punishments.

"Fighting in the sport is an unnecessary risk — it is a
dangerous activity for any athlete to be a part of," the
organization stated in a press release. "Incidents of concussions
can increase with every fight that happens; it is becoming more
apparent that a blow to the head area has the potential to cause
severe and long-term injury.

"The health and safety of all participants in Canada's national
summer sport is amongst the leading concerns of the Canadian
Lacrosse Association — changes to Rule 45 demonstrates our
collective assertion that fighting in the game will not be
tolerated and lends additional protection to our participants."

"My understanding is that it's a compulsory ruling, and we'll be
examining that, but if that's the case, then [the WLA] will go
ahead under the current rules," WLA commissioner Casey Cook told
the newspaper.

"It's a first step," British Columbia Lacrosse Association vice
president Ron McQuarrie, who was was part of the CLA's committee to
review fighting, told the News. "It's an improvement, and
people know that. Will there still be fighting [this year]?
Probably, but there will be consequences. Fighting doesn't play a
part in sports, except the UFC. We felt people will recognize this
is a good move. It's where we want to take our box game."